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| Bent bailiffs 'rip off and lie' http://www.bbfans.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=27718 |
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| Author: | JimD [ 26 Sep 06, 14:08 ] |
| Post subject: | Bent bailiffs 'rip off and lie' |
Corrupt bailiffs are working for companies who collect congestion charge fines, a BBC investigation has found. Reporter Jim Wheble went undercover as a bailiff and worked for two companies - Drakes and CCS Enforcement Services Limited, who collect the charges. During his investigation for BBC One's Whistleblower programme he said he saw people being ripped off, conned and lied to by some bailiffs. He also saw bailiffs threatening jail terms. The firms plan to investigate. Some of the bailiffs referred to themselves as "legal thieves". The programme also highlighted how many people were tricked into paying debts which have nothing to do with them. Our reporter filmed bailiffs lying about their legal powers, threatening to take people's goods illegally and clamping cars without permission. One bailiff - who was also a former policeman - also taught the undercover reporter how to break into people's houses. Mr Wheble said: "Our investigation highlights how this is an issue that could affect us all, as any one of us could get a knock on the door from these people. "The public should ensure they know their legal rights so they are not strong-armed into overpaying or shelling out for debts which aren't theirs." He said the industry needed a watchdog to enforce codes of conduct and ensure bailiffs powers were not abused. Both CCS Enforcement and Drakes said they would carry out full investigations into the claims made by the programme and would take disciplinary action if necessary. Whistleblower is broadcast on BBC One Tuesday 26 September at 2100. Story from BBC NEWS Published: 2006/09/26 11:37:03 GMT |
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| Author: | tastyfish [ 28 Sep 06, 22:33 ] |
| Post subject: | |
I watched this the other day - it was outrageous. Don't get me wrong, people who don't pay their fines should be made to pay up, with costs, but what these guys were doing, to use their own words, was legalised robbing! And telling those poor youngsters that their mummy was going to go to prison. It's amazing how many industries in this country remain unregulated, people seemingly able to con people out of thousands. The law doesn't seem to want to help innocent victims of conmen, yet if you do 45 in a 40mph limit at 2 in the morning the law is immediately on your back. |
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